Candidate for
City Councilmember; City of White Plains; Democratic Party

Since returning to the Common Council on July 20, 2006 (first by appointment, then by election), I have been working hard to represent all the people of White Plains. I continue to be a strong proponent of open and accessible government, including the need to televise all Common Council Special Meetings involving voting matters.

I have played a major role in key decisions affecting the quality of life for residents:

1] Cappelli's `Station Plaza' proposal: I played a leading role in saying "NO" to the request for exclusivity in developing a plan for the city-owned 5 acres near the train station, introducing the motion to table the `exclusivity agreement' resolution at the May 24th Special Meeting of the Common Council. I subsequently argued vehemently against the resolution at the June 4th Common Council meeting.

I have consistently advocated for a city vision that meaningfully includes residents in the process. The development of this area represents one of the final chapters of suburban versus urban White Plains and it will affect people living and working in every neighborhood of our 10 square miles. We first need to carefully and objectively assess our capabilities and limitations in this sensitive area, e.g., office space vs. residential, density, height, traffic, sewerage, environmental consequences, impact on neighborhoods, mass transit, pedestrian safety, open space, fiscal impacts, etc.

When we, as a city, have begun to understand what this all means and considered alternatives, then we can ask developers for their ideas. But first, WE need to begin formulating what OUR visions are for this critically sensitive area.

2] New York Presbyterian Hospital's Subdivision Plans: I played a major role in the efforts to turn down the City of White Plains/NYPH plans to establish a major residential development on the hospital grounds close to Bryant Avenue in exchange for 6.5 acres of open space/parkland. I joined Council members Malmud, Boykin and Roach in that historic 4-3 vote. The negative financial implications for the city, should the project not move to completion, would have been excessive; there were questions of legality of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the hospital. The special permit request to build the proton beam accelerator would have been held in abeyance until the subdivision project moved forward; there was no indication from the hospital as to their plans for the northern part of the property. I also believed that the offer of 6.5 acres of open space/parkland was exceedingly low.

3] Greenway: Paper Streets De-Mapping and Parkland Dedication: I was a co-sponsor of new legislation to enhance preservation of linear park and continue to be a leading proponent of protecting / acquiring open space.

4] Railside Lots Along Greenway: I voted against the sale of city-owned lots along the narrowest part of the Greenway.

5] 55 Bank Street: I was part of the 7-0 vote to approve building of 537 rental units with 20% [or 107 units] of the units slated as affordable in perpetuity.

6] North Street LLC (former St. Agnes Hospital): I was part of a majority of the Council that prompted the developer of the old St. Agnes property to scale back the height and density of the proposed senior housing/office space project and to push the development farther back from the Wyndham Close properties.

I joined with Councilman Roach in voting against the newly established Planned Senior Residential Development zone mainly because of density issues and the consequent impacts on this and other residential neighborhoods.

7] Senior Affordable Housing at Court & Quarropas: I signed on as the 4th Council member in support of this project, joining Council members Malmud, Boykin and Roach (former Councilman Bob Greer had also supported this project). With a high percentage of the 180-200 units for seniors with moderate to below-moderate income being made available to White Plains residents, the project will have a dramatic, positive impact on affordable housing needs in the City.

8] Affordable Workforce Home Ownership & Rental Housing Program: I co-sponsored legislation to increase the 'set-aside' requirements for new workforce housing from 6% to 10% and to substantially increase 'buy-out' provisions for developers.